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AP Top News at 11:00 p.m. EDT

TMCNet:  AP Top News at 11:00 p.m. EDT

[August 22, 2008]

AP Top News at 11:00 p.m. EDT

(AP Online Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Obama VP intro to be Saturday; Kaine, Bayh are outWASHINGTON (AP) _ On a day and night of political suspense, Delaware Sen. Joe Biden emerged as a leading contender Friday to become Barack Obama's vice presidential pick as two running mate rivals learned they had been eliminated. Virginia Gov. Tom Kaine spread word he had been ruled out and Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana was told he was not Obama's choice, according to party officials.

Russian military pulls out of key Georgian areasGORI, Georgia (AP) _ Columns of hulking, smoke-belching Russian tanks rolled out of key positions deep inside Georgia Friday as Moscow declared it had pulled its forces out following the worst confrontation between the Kremlin and the West since the Soviet collapse. But the United States, France and Britain protested the withdrawal was not complete. Georgians exulted in a new sense of freedom as the Russian troops departed.

Stocks jump on falling oil, inflation forecastNEW YORK (AP) _ Wall Street capped a volatile week with sharp gains Friday as oil prices tumbled and after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said inflation pressures are likely to moderate. The Dow Jones industrial average rose nearly 200 points. Speculation that Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. could be sold helped buoy the financial sector and the overall market. Analysts warned this week that the investment bank could book large write-downs for bad debt. But reports Friday that Korea Development Bank is considering buying the company sent investors rushing for the stock. Lehman rose 69 cents, or 5 percent, to $14.41 but finished well off its highs of the session.

On the 5th day of Fay, cleanup begins in Fla.STEINHATCHEE, Fla. _ As Tropical Storm Fay finally got on track Friday to leave Florida behind, flood-stricken homeowners got an encouraging sign: Muddy brown water lines began appearing on the sides of homes, a clue that floodwaters were receding. The fickle storm that stuck around for five days and carved a dizzying path that included three separate landfalls dumped more than two feet of rain in some places. But to the relief of Floridians, it finally veered west on a path that should take it away from the state for good later this weekend.

Bhutto widower proposed for Pakistan presidentISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) _ Pakistan's largest political party on Friday proposed the husband of assassinated leader Benazir Bhutto to succeed the ousted Pervez Musharraf as president. Asif Ali Zardari, who is emerging as the favorite to be elected by legislators Sept. 6, criticized Musharraf for his long, authoritarian rule but would likely continue the former general's support for the U.S. war against extremist groups.

Gymnasts' parents 'indignant' over age questionsBEIJING (AP) _ The parents of the Chinese gymnasts are indignant, the International Olympic Committee sounds satisfied and the Beijing Games are almost over. Yet questions persisted Friday about the ages of China's gold-medal women's gymnastics team. Are they 14? Are they 16?

Bolt goes 3-for-3, adding relay gold to 100, 200BEIJING (AP) _ Usain Bolt loves the cameras, the cameras love Usain Bolt, and when they connected during his third victory lap of these Olympics, he smiled that infectious smile and raised three fingers. As in: 3-for-3-for-3.

Telecom rollouts raise ire over utility boxesPHILADELPHIA (AP) _ The road to advanced video, Internet and phone services is bumpy _ and the bumps can be almost as big as refrigerators. As cable and phone companies race to upgrade services or offer video for the first time, they're doing it by installing equipment in boxes on lawns, easements and curbs all over American neighborhoods. Telecommunications rollouts have always been messy, but several towns and residents are fighting back with cries of "Not in my front yard!"

Audits of Medicare drug plans lackingWASHINGTON (AP) _ Nearly three years into the Medicare drug benefit, federal officials have yet to ensure that private drug plans enacted programs to deter fraud and abuse, government investigators say. About 24 million people are enrolled in Medicare drug plans subsidized by the federal government. The plans are required to develop programs to stem improper spending, but the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has not conducted audits to ensure those programs were up and running properly. That lack of oversight "risks significant misuse of funds in this $39 billion program," the Government Accountability Office said in a report to be publicly released Monday.

McMahon to sell home, but not to TrumpLOS ANGELES (AP) _ Ed McMahon is on the move. McMahon has agreed to a deal with a private buyer for his hilltop home, said Howard Bragman, the former "Tonight" show sidekick's spokesman.

Copyright ? 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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